Missions was a way of life at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church of Greensboro, where the service projects list fills a page. Then, a nation showed up at their doorstep.

Refugees from war-torn Burma, known as Myanmar, are being relocated to the Greensboro area. Known as the Karen people, the refugees fled first into Thailand to escape political persecution and a country ravaged by last year’s deadly cyclone.

“The nations came to us,” said pastor Pat Cronin.

The church’s ministry to the Karen began when it “adopted” one family a little over a year ago. Recently, four Karen young adults were baptized.

“We never thought we would see this happen,” Cronin said, thrilled by the commitments of faith.

Cronin said the Karen church plant is a daily reminder of the ministry of the Cooperative Program (CP) around the world and fits well with the church’s mission statement to bring “all people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Resources were in place to begin the growing ministry, thanks in part to the church’s commitment to putting love in action through the Cooperative Program.

Ron and Evelyn Hill, church members and retired International Mission Board missionaries trained in the Thai language, provided a first contact with the group. They received their linguistic abilities as part of their missionary training provided by CP gifts from the more than 44,000 Southern Baptist congregations.

BP photo by Kimberly Kossover

Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro ministers to Burmese Karen refugees — like these Karen children — in their community.

The Cooperative Program is the way state conventions in the Southern Baptist Convention work together the Acts 1:8 way — supporting local, regional, national and international missions and ministries.

Fulfilling the Great Commission is why the church supports missions through the Cooperative Program. Currently 15 percent of the church’s undesignated offerings are committed to reaching people through the Cooperative Program.

Giving makes sense, Cronin said.

“When you hear the name ‘Southern Baptist,’ you think missions,” Cronin said. “How can you not tap into the resources that make us effective?”

Volunteers greet newcomers at the airport with food and basic necessities and help them settle into their new homes and surroundings.

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Since 1833 the Biblical Recorder has served North Carolina Baptists as the Baptist State Convention's official news journal - with the emphasis on news. The paper was founded by Thomas Meredith, an early pastor, writer and denominational statesman in North Carolina.